Re: Carnivores and Packs

[Flyinggoat@aol.com]

>>   Hunting juveniles IS the normal mode of hunting for most of >>the
predators mentioned.  The number of kills of juveniles in any >>area is
ALWAYS higher than the number of kills of adults of the >>same type.

>Can you point me to a reference for this? 

   This was something I heard from my Physical Anthroplogy instructor in
college.  I don't think I have any of the texts left, but I'll check down at
San Jose State's library next time I'm down that way and get you some
references. 
 
>Most herbivours will only have juveniles at certain times of year, >not even
a majority of the time...

    I think you may be operating under a different definition of juvenile
than I am.  I don't meant infant, I don't mean unweaned, I mean any
individual that is not yet old enough to survive on its own without the
protection of it's elder(s), such as 1 1/2 year old elephant calves or 9
month old zebra 'yearlings', as well as can't-quite-walk-yet gazelles.  Most
large mammalian herbivores will keep the mother and child pairing for at
least one breeding cycle, which is generally a year for most of the larger
mammals.  This means the mother has a 'juvenile' in attendance all year
round.

Betty Cunningham(Flyinggoat@aol.com)